Calf-ankle sock supporter



'May1 6, 193-3. 'L. woons 1,908,121

CALF-ANKLE SOGK SUPPORTER -F11ed June 17, 1932 Patented May 16, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application filed June 17,

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in calf-ankle sock supporters, the peculiarities of WhICh Wlll be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

The main ob ects of my invention ard to provide means first, for mounting the supporter on either the upper part of the calf or on the ankle; second, for ad usting the length of band to embrace elther point of support; third, for engaging the sock in either supported position; and fourth, for guarding the clip opening from engagement of skin or hairs when pulling a sock portion into the clipping notch.

In the accompanying drawing in which like reference numerals indicate correspondin parts,

Fig. 1 represents my supporter mounted on the ankle of the user and engag ng the to of a sock;

ig. 2, a similar view when it is mounted on the upper part of the calf;

Fig. 3, an enlarged face view of my supporter showing a side connection for the clip and guard portions;

Fig. 4, a side edge view of the same;

Fig. 5, a similar view of the opposlte side;

Fig. 6, a top edge view;

Fig. 7 a face view of a top COIlIleCtlOIl of the clip and guard portions; and

Fig. 8, an edge view of the same.

This present invention is an improvement over that described in my prior allowed application Serial Number 544,205, filed June 13, 1931, Patent No. 1,877,108, referring to a sock supporter mounted on the ankle.

In the present form my improved sock supporter can be mounted on the ankle, or on the upper part of the calf, as may be desired by the user or whichever position sults h1s length or size of leg.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates a band of webbing, elastic or otherwise, having near one end a series of wire staples 2, or other hook-engaging means, spaced apart and their rear ends 2' covered bya flap 3 (Fig. 8) of the same webbing or other material, to protect said ends from contact with the wearers skin and to more securely fasten said ends.

1932. Serial No. 617,782.

These staples, or equivalent means, are preferably raised slightly and bent backward in the center on the front side (Fig. 3), forming embossed angular loops 4 at the middle for centralengagement with a hook 5 which is pointed inward on a link 6 through which passes the other end of said band. The series of staples is long enough for the band to encircle the upper part of the calf and allow said hook to engage a staple near the end. In extreme cases, when the size of the leg .is large, the elasticity of said band will allow of engaging the hook and staples. In most cases however, it is only necessary to pass the band around the calf without stretching it, as pressure on the leg at that point is not advisable.

When the band is mounted on the ankle, the hook engages a staple further from the end (Fig. 1) and the angular shape of the loop centers the hook thereon.

Extending at substantially right angles from said band is a strip 8, one end 9 of which has slot-s through which is passed said band (Figs. 1, 2 and 3), or is otherwise mounted thereon. The slots allow of sliding the strip towards or away from the staples in prop erly disposing the strip in the depression of the leg near the inner bone (tibia) of the leg.

The opposite end of said strip is provided with a clip portion consisting of a vertically disposed elliptical plate 19, having a central aperture 10 with upper and lower wedge slits 11 adapted respectively to clip a portion of the upper end of a sock when said portion is pulled through by the thumb and finger and then downward'into the wedge slit that is the lower one at the time.

When the band is adjusted on the ankle and the strip extends upward next to the leg, the

clip portion is disposed on the outside of the sock as the edge of the sock is slipped upward behind it. The rear parallel portion 12 of the strip opposite the aperture, "is widened as much or more than said aperture, so as to shield the wearers leg when the thumb and finger pinch the sock to pull a portion of it outward, and downward into said wedge slit. The rear portion of the strip thus aperture in the front portion.

guards the This front, clip portion is connected to the adjacent end of said strip by a side connection 13 as in Figs. ,1-:1b'6, or by an end connection 13' asin' FigsJZ and 8 or otherwise. Thestrip is preferably made a transparent V celluloid material (known as viscoloid),

which is easily bent when heated and is rigid when cooled. The clip portion and guard portion are thus integrally connected. In use the clipportion and guard portion of said strip are substantially parallel to each other and are separated by the thickness of the sock slipped upward into the space 14, then pinched and pulled outward and downward into its wedge slit, as before stated and as indicated in Fi s. 1 and 2'.

When the band is mounte (Fig. 1), and the clip portion is engaged to the sock, the strip 8 constitutes a brace and holds up the sock from the ankle.

When the band is mounted on the upper part of the calf and the clip portion is engaged to the sock, the strip constitutes a tie or hanger to hold up the sock.

By means of my adjustable length of band above described and my strip extension with its guarded clip, my'present sock supporter can be mounted either on the ankle, or on the upper part of the calf as desired, or as the size andlength of leg, or other conditions, may require.

I claim:

1. A sock sup orter comprising a band having a series 0 wire staples near one end which is folded back and forms a flap to cover and secure the ends of said staple and a hook link at the other end adapted to engage centrally and selectively one of said staples, and a stri slidably mounted on said band at substantially right angles thereto by one of its ends, and provided at its other end with means for engaging an interposed sock portion, substantially as described.

2. A sock supporter comprising a strip provided at one end with parallel plate portions and an integral connection therefor, the front one of said portions having a central aperture with an upper and lower wedge slit, and the rear plate portion being widened opposite said a erture and disposed adjacent thereto to orm a guard, and an encircling band connected to the other end of said strip, substantially as described.

3. A sock supporter comprising a strip proon the ankle,

4. A sock supporter comprising a strip provided at one end with a plate portion having an aperture with a downward wedge slit for clipping a sock portion pulled forward through said aperture, and a substantially parallel rear plate portion to be disposed inside the sock directly opposite and adjacent to said aperture to form a guard for the leg, said plate portions being connected to provide an intervening space corresponding to the thickness of a sock, and means to hold the other end of said strip in supporting position on the wearers leg, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have aflixed my signature.

LEONARD WOODS.

vided at one end with an elliptical plate having an aperture with a downward wedge slit for clipping a sock portion, and a parallel plate portion widened opposite and adjacent to said aperture to form a guard, said plate portions being integrally connected by a side connection forming an intervening space corresponding to the thickness of a sock, and means hold the other end of said strip in a supporting position on the wearers leg, substantially as described. 

